Long ago, in a small village, a royal decree was posted: “All wild ginseng must be offered as tribute. Anyone who disobeys will be severely punished.” With heavy hearts, the villagers surrendered their precious roots. A few days later, the magistrate received word that one household had hidden their ginseng. Accompanied by his soldiers, he went to the house, and they searched every corner until they finally discovered the concealed roots. The magistrate immediately ordered the family’s son to be taken away for defying the royal command. Falling to his knees, the young man pleaded,
“I accept my punishment—but please, allow me to see my mother once more before I go.”
At that moment, his ailing mother, who had long been confined to bed, came stumbling out barefoot and fell beside her son.
“My son disobeyed only because he wished to brew the ginseng for me,” she cried. “The fault is mine alone—punish me instead.”
Then the daughter-in-law came running and fell to her knees.
“I am the one who dug up the ginseng,” she said. “It is only right that I should be taken instead.”
As the family wept and each tried to take the blame, the magistrate dismissed his soldiers and said,
“When each of you lays the guilt upon yourselves, how could I possibly punish any of you?”
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